{Loving Lately} - Tis' the Season for Everything Pumpkin!

When I was younger, I would never eat pumpkin ANYTHING - after my first carving experience, the "guts" were gross enough to deter me from pumpkin until I started becoming a more "daring" (and by daring I mean something other than ranch dressing on my salads, eating that tiny corn, and ordering something at a restaurant without "hold the..." being uttered and receiving eye rolls from my dinner date) eater at the age of 21.

There are things that I'm NOT glad that I tried (onions, let's face it, you and I will never be friends), but I am very glad I gave pumpkin another shot, and it's something I enjoy baking with, especially during this season!

Lately...I'm loving everything PUMPKIN!

Below are some of my favorite pumpkin recipes, decorations, and all things pumpkin!
I'll include a recipe for my "Microwave 10-Minute Pumpkin Cake" too!

these pumpkin scones (perfect with a pumpkin spice latte!) from recipe girl.


these little burlap pumpkins from wonderful little things on etsy (an easy decoration that works for the whole season!)


this beautiful pumpkin decoration - using your average panty hose!

these whoopie pies from little miss momma - any recipe with "whooopiiiie" and pumpkin in the title is good for me!


this list wouldn't be complete without a delicious skinny pumpkin latte!


these yummy (and low-ish cal!) pumpkin cheesecake truffles from the frugal girls



OK...so most of these things are totally decadent and sweet - but tis' the season, and thanks to clever baking and ingredient swaps, these treats can be low cal too!


Now...the easy recipe - for perfect every time 10-Minute Microwave Pumpkin Cake

First, mix your yellow cake mix, pumpkin, and eggs.

Poor batter into your Tupperware Stack Cooker.

Microwave for 10 minutes.

Let cool for 1-2 minutes

Flip over onto plate.

Top with cool whip/whip creamed mixed with a tablespoon of vanilla, and a teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)

Enjoy! Simple as that!

Back on the blog....my way.

Daily posts full of amazing DIY projects, tasty recipes, and amazing advice.
Impeccable photos of outfits of the day, new shop items, and beautiful families.
Linking up here, guest posting there, tweeting this, giving away that.
Inspiring other bloggers, paving the way for us new girls.
...that's what amazing bloggers are made of.

These are the ladies I envy. The bloggers that have made this journey their job, their hobby, and a part of themselves. The ladies that have the creativity to take their handmade business to great heights, but the confidence to post about those struggles too.

For as long as I've had my blog, I aspired to be like them.
I searched and searched my creative being to find that "one" product that I would make that would bring me success.
I started a  blog, in hopes of connecting with countless people, and becoming a household name like many of them are to me.
 

After the late nights up writing, lunch hours spent DIY-ing to make a "deadline", and the stress I was starting to feel, I stopped loving to write. I stopped loving making things. And as horrible as it sounds, I almost started resenting and becoming jealous of those bloggers that I once envied.

The whole reason I started a blog was to have a positive outlet, to write bits and pieces of my life, to share some creative ideas, and to be able to make this into a hobby that would encourage self growth.

But at that point I started asking myself why I wasn't "good enough" or what I was even doing writing a blog...and that was draining.

Why couldn't I bare my soul like those women so easily could?

Why weren't my DIY projects as innovative and adorable as theirs?

Why couldn't I experience amazing growth like into having hundreds of followers like them?

Why didn't I write with the passion and devotedness that was portrayed in many of their posts?

...and even if it took me 2 weeks of essentially "abandoning" my blog, I came to a realization...I wasn't them. I enjoy reading each of the above blogs daily, but part of the reason why I enjoy reading them so much is that they are all so different. And that is when it hit me.....that is where the beauty in having YOUR blog lies....being able to express yourself in whatever way you wish.

I may never hit 1,000 likes, or have 100 sales on my etsy shoppe.....but at the end of the day, that's ok.

I'm back on the blog, and have a renewed sense of self...

I am a full-time working momma, with a family of boys that is both awkward and awesome.

I spend my free time building my Tupperware business, spending time with friends, and enjoying the days that are going by entirely too quickly with my family.

I enjoy DIY-ing, but never take pictures.
{and am usually too lazy to re-do the craft to make a tutorial.}

I don't cook entirely fancy great recipes - but I do make some pretty awesome recipes with my crock pot and Tupperware Stack Cooker.

I may post sporadically, and they may not be adorned with gorgeous photography, or ridiculously adorable DIY projects, but they will be 100% me, and for that, I hope you keep following and enjoying this little corner of my world.

It's Ok Thursday

IT'S OKAY

- to take an entire week off of work, and not feel bad about it {even if you don't have many plans at all!}

- that I still firmly believe in family Halloween costumes {I'm going to take advantage of the cheesy-ness for as long as I can - watch out, the Quillens will be Monsters Inc. characters this year!}

 - to skim past political posts on facebook - even if they are from dear friends. This time of the year is tiring, and I'll keep my issues and opinions...mine.

 

- to spend extra time cuddling, and less time getting ready for the day.

- to save a little money on cable, and catch up on all of my tv shows a day late on Hulu.

- that my average Pinterest Success rate is about at 60% {note to self, just buy dang curtains - painting them is a horrible idea!}

- to brag about my husband - the chocolate chip pancake making, love note writing, rose buying, anniversary surprising, handsome, sarcastic, witty man that he is!

- not to open the door for the FedEx guy...not because you don't hear him, but because you're in your pajamas!

And finally....it's ok to listen to Oprah, and surround yourself only with people that are going to bring you higher.